Sylvan Learning Centers

Our son is so behind and we didn't want private. He needed structure. My sister had used Sylvan for her kids and she's a teacher. So, with my sister being a teacher, we knew that Sylvan was one of the better ones to use. My son is really behind in sight words. So he's focusing in reading. It's really gotten him a confidence builder at this point and it's seen him grow. Our son has ADHD and has a form of dyslexia where he sees shadowing. We got him the prism glasses, so that's helped. Sylvan's really given him the confidence that he's really needed.

We have a foreign exchange student from China, and their first year is always the hardest. They learn basic English but then, when you throw in words from chemistry and words from US history and all these big words, you're like a deer in headlights. So, we started seeing that the writing was on the wall. He's gonna need some more help. I went online, looked around, and my daughter-in-law said that she has used Sylvan for a number of things for her daughter when she lived in Texas. We had another option and we could have done that, but it was much farther away. Sylvan was close so we went with them. We were just gonna see how it would go and he really liked it. We were doing it two days a week, and then we were like, "Okay, we need more." They had availability for two more days. So now, he's doing it Monday through Thursday and sometimes on Saturday if he's got a project coming up or something where he needs that.

Sylvan has better results and they have their own plan. That's what my nieces needed the most. I needed somebody who knew what they were doing. Sylvan also has certified teachers. One tutor for my oldest niece encourages her to be confident with her answers and to stop second-guessing herself, which I appreciate because she has struggled with that. Most of them have been enthusiastic and open to helping my nieces.

My son has been off school for two years because of the COVID and he has been not been performing well at school. I'm divorced and his dad let our son go to school in full time only just March so my son missed many things already. The school planned to have my son repeat 4th grade and I'm okay with it. But my son's confidence was butchered. We've been with Kumon for four years and he hates it so much. It is not for everybody. Every time we went there, they also did the assessment. My son is quite playful and they would say that his level is one notch down. So, they keep on letting my son go back to for example, 2nd grade. They let my son do the 1st grade.

The school is trying to get the kids ready for the STAAR test. The teachers and staff designated the month of April, and they offered Saturday school from 9:00am to 12:00pm for students that had challenges. My scholar, Alicia, fell into that category, and that schedule interfered with her tutoring with Sylvan because we only go in and we're there for an hour. I had to contact her Sylvan instructor. I nor her Sylvan instructor wanted her to miss out on the opportunity.

One particular tutor is excellent. My daughter had several other interactions, and one of those interactions, the person was a bit quiet. But overall, the facility is awesome and full of people that are super smart and ready to help. So, I couldn't be happier with Sylvan Learning Centers. When my daughter went in there, she had a 2.2 and Algebra was sinking her ship. So, I knew that if I could get her help in that, it would bring up the other grades and take the pressure off of her so that she had more time to spend with the other subjects. She has three 4s now. It's expensive, so I'm blessed enough to be able to send her there. But you get what you pay.

It's going great with Sylvan. We're using it for reading for both of my kids, and it's making a difference. They keep the same schedule which is what I need.

My granddaughter's mom is supposed to be giving her homeschool training, but she got sick and couldn't homeschool. I went in there, looked for a place and thought about Sylvan Learning. I like them because I took my grandson as well and he excels. He’s first of the list now. When my granddaughter went there, they were so nice and treated her good, and she just fell in love with them. So, I said, “I won't let her just take tutoring so she can be learning.” At first, I didn't know they became a certified school, then I decided to let her go to the school. My granddaughter is just in kindergarten, but she loves Sylvan Learning. She got in the car the other day and said “I had the best day ever.” I didn't let her start going till January, but she's learning.

Lee who runs Sylvan in Essex is an incredible individual. She is so engaging with the kids. She's funny and smart. Tommy, my son, has asked several times if Miss Lee could be his teacher in school, and why he can't only go see Miss Lee. We stuck with Sylvan mostly due to her. She's so quick. She was emailing me three times last night. She has never left a single email hanging for more than 24 hours. She does an excellent job. The classroom setting that they have there is lovely. The way they have a store set up for points has kept my son engaged. Sylvan has been extremely helpful. His school is so impressed.

So far, we're happy with Sylvan. My son only had a few classes, but it seems to be helping, and they're very accommodating. He's been to six classes so far now. He goes in there not understanding whatever problem he did that day at school, and he comes home with a better understanding of it once he's taken that class. I met a couple of Sylvan's staff face-to-face and then through text messages. They're always accommodating and quick to reply, and they've been great. I would recommend Sylvan. I think it doesn't hurt to try. If the child is willing, then you have to take advantage of it.